Every sport has a primary tool, right? Soccer has the ball. Lacrosse has the stick. Running? Well, it kind of goes without saying that our most important tool is our shoes. And, depending on what kind of runner you are, you might have multiple pairs of shoes for the different types of work that you're doing. Or, you might just like wearing different types of shoes because they look cool or feel freaking great. Ultimately, if you are going to run in any way, your feet have to be happy and that means finding the right shoes for them. Seems pretty straightforward, no? I have a size 7 foot. My running shoes are usually a 7.5. I have a good arch so I tend to use a neutral shoe. I am prone to plantar fasciitis so I prefer a more cushioned model. I played soccer as a kid through high school and squeezed my not narrow feet into cleats every day. I'm sorry, feet. During that time, my left foot developed a bunion and, as they tend to do, it has grown bigger over time. It's a common ailment and it doesn't tend to be a huge deterrent to runners. Until it is. Now, granted, I have been running marathons since 2007 and when I'm in training, I do run very high mileage, so I am one hundred percent at fault for the fact that my bunion has become an issue. But I have done my research and tried many things and the bottom line is that surgery is not a viable option for where I am in my life. And until I literally can't run, I am going to do whatever it takes to make it work as it is. And this means, wearing a wider shoe. Which brings me to this
SHOEQUEST. I discovered the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 in Wide in 2022 and it was love at first run. Finally, a fast, comfortable every day trainer that worked with my wider foot. It was designed with PEBA foam and had a nylon plate which basically means it was both lightweight (size 6.5 weighing just 6.3 oz) and ridiculously responsive. As one does when they find a pair of shoes that work, I purchased many pairs and stockpiled them. Because, as we all know, these perfect shoes are not going to last forever. Three years and eight to ten pairs later, it was September of 2024 and, as expected, I was no longer able to find these shoes. Anywhere. In stores, online, used, borrowed, blue, they were officially gone. The newly released Endorphin Speed 4 was not offered in a wider model and the standard fit was, not surprisingly, too narrow. As you can imagine, I was slightly devastated. I was also in bit a panic as I no longer had a daily trainer that worked for my foot. So at that point I officially began my hunt for a comparable replacement shoe. I
reached out to the masses - friends, teammates, strangers who were wearing shoes that I had never seen before and looked like they'd be willing to talk to me - anyone really, and asked for suggestions. I started buying and trying any brand and/or model that touted a comfortable ride with a wider toe box. Yes, this is a very expensive project and I had to sell some personal items (clothes, furniture, my dog - kidding) to justify spending the funds to see it through. I leaned heavily on the
try for 30 days and return if they don't work policy that some of these brands kindly offer. Fortunately, I mentioned my quest to my friends over at
Six Minute Mile (SMM) and they jumped on board to help support my mission. Which brings me to this post. I have tried many pairs of shoes. And have more lined up to test. But before I get ahead of myself, I want to share my findings to date. Some of these have worked, some I couldn't even put on my foot. Some felt pretty good, some awesome, some terrible. Remember, this is specific to a runner with a wide foot issue, so the feedback you're getting is, first and foremost, with that in mind. Yes, I'll give you some other details as to why I like it or don't but I'm not going to go crazy with analysis. My friend Brian Metzler, who
reviews shoes for SMM has likely tried many, if not all of these shoes and given them the detailed review you deserve. I'm not taking it to that level here. Wide foot? Some of these might work. Some of them probably don't. End of story. So, this is for all the runners out there who share a similar problem and must have a wider shoe. Especially the women, as society has deemed us not likely to have wide feet, which is ridiculous. All feet matter.
SHOEQUEST MISSION: DAILY TRAINER FOR A WIDE FOOT
Hoka Skyward X - Peba mid-sole, Carbon fiber plate, 9.2 oz
Pros - These have max cushion and a great response despite their weight. This has become my go-to recovery run shoe. I call them my cheaters because it feels like they're doing a lot of the work for me. Not a bad thing.
Cons - They're very heavy and take some time to get used to. They are not offered in a WIDE, so they're wide enough but just barely. At $225, these are a legitimate investment for a trainer.
Topo Athletic Atmos - WIDE - Zip foam, 7.9 oz
Pros - These are lightweight, have a nice, breathable mesh upper and a very roomy toe box.
Cons - The wide was actually too wide. It felt like my toes were having a dance party when I ran. Also, at only 5mm, I now know I'm not a huge fan of the lower drop shoe.
Asics Superblast 2 - Metaspeed Foam, 8.8 oz
Pros - These are lightweight, have good cushion and are notably bouncy.
Cons - Despite being a unisex shoe, this was still not quite wide enough for me. I didn't notice it in the first couple runs but it started to feel too tight over time as my foot started to rub against the side.
Puma MagMax - Nitrofoam, 10.2 oz
Pros - Like the Hokas, these have maximum cushion. First run out of the box, an easy 10 miler, felt great. Nice and springy despite their weight.
Cons - This is a beast of a shoe. It weighs a lot and you can feel that. They don't offer a wide in any Puma shoes and these are fine but I would order a Wide if it was available.
Brooks Glycerin 21 - WIDE - DNA Loft cushioning, 8.8 oz
Pros - This shoe is so comfortable, almost like a slipper. The wider toe box is perfect for my foot. The shoe has solid cushion despite being pretty lightweight.
Cons - There's not much I didn't like about this shoe. Of all the models I tried, this one doesn't have quite as much cushion. It's a minor drawback given how good the fit is. I highly recommend this one.
Saucony Kinvara Pro - WIDE - Carbon plate, PWR Run Foam, 8.5oz
Pros - This shoe is nice and light and has plenty of room in the toe box. I had high hopes in the beginning.
Cons - First I ordered this in my regular 7.5 and that was too small in length, not width. I exchanged those for an 8 which I've never worn and while that fit better for my left foot with the bunion it was too big for my right foot. I also thought it was pretty stiff and didn't loosen up much even after a few runs.
Hoka Skyflow - Eva foam, 8.6 oz
Pros - This shoe is like a cousin to the aforementioned Skyward X. It's a much lighter shoe but not at the cost of the cushioning. It's a very smooth ride. It also has plenty of room in the toe box.
Cons - Despite the fact that the shoe is lighter, it doesn't feel as responsive to me as the Skyward. It's just not quite as snappy on the road.
New Balance Supercomp Trainer v3 - WIDE - Carbon plate, Energy foam, 7.5oz
Pros - Well folks, this is the one. Of all the shoes I've tried, the Supercomp Trainer is the most like my old trainer. It's light, responsive, has a Carbon plate (which I now realize that I prefer) and generally just feels fast despite having plenty of cushion. While the shoe itself is pretty streamlined, the wide version does work for my foot.
Cons - The only small drawback is that even the wide feels just a smidge cozy for my toes. That said, I've worn them multiple times and this has not been an issue yet so I am cautiously optimistic.
Listen to this:
Be Yourself - Hilltop Hoods feat. Nyassa, Ecca Vandal
